Ex-American Heritage girls basketball coach files discrimination complaint against school

Former American Heritage girls basketball coach Brett Studley has filed a discrimination complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations over his firing from the private school.

Studley’s complaint alleges that last year he came under fire by administrators at the school located in Delray Beach for allowing his players to wear Black Lives Matter t-shirts during pre-game warm-ups after the school failed to appropriately address racial issues among its students. Studley was fired on June 10, 2021, after a series of games and a fundraiser were canceled by administrators, allegedly in retaliation. 

Studley fired:American Heritage parts ways with coach who supported players wearing Black Lives Matter shirts

Jordana Codio transfers:Jordana Codio's turbulent year: Discussing her transfer from American Heritage, commitment to Texas

American Heritage wins regional:American Heritage girls basketball makes history with first-ever state semifinal appearance despite loss of star Codio

Studley, who coached at the school for four years, led the Stallions to their first-ever regional title in 2020-21.His record at Heritage was 54-43 (18 of those losses came in his first season). He also led the Stallions to two district titles.

Following Studley's firing, interview requests during the summer to school president Douglas Laurie and athletic director Laney Stearns were not answered. Laurie told The Palm Beach Post in December that players wearing Black Lives Matter shirts was a violation of the school’s jersey policy and never approved by the administration.

Chuck Rodman, whose firm, Rodman Employment Law, has been hired to represent Studley, explained the thinking behind the complaint.

"We as parents expect our teachers and coaches to support our kids," Rodman said in a release. "Mr. Studley did what we would want our own teachers to do, support his students in what he perceived to be discriminatory actions. In doing so, he put his own livelihood on the line, and it is wrong that he and his family should suffer for doing the right thing.”

According to the complaint, American Heritage in recent years has been the subject of other racism accusations and for exhibiting a double standard. In 2018, former Heat star Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, publicly supported an investigation charging the school with race-based expulsion of an African American student. In addition, the school has shown contradictory rules by permitting students to publicly support former President Donald Trump and the Blue Lives Matter movement during school.

Studley and other faculty also noted increased admissions scrutiny and disparate student discipline towards students of color.

Studley, who lives in Boca Raton, has maintained relationships with many of his former American Heritage players and their parents. They have supported his position and publicly denounced his firing on social media.

“It takes a lot of courage for a successful coach to put his neck on the line to stand up for students of color in a private school setting in Florida, especially in today’s climate, and make them feel supported," said Monge Codio, the father of former American Heritage standout Jordana Codio, who since has transferred to Montverde Academy for her senior season.

"Brett did the best he could to support his players while at the same time adhering to his employer policies," Monge Codio added. "He did what was right.” 

Another of the team's top players, sophomore sensation Alancia Ramsey, The Palm Beach Post’s player of the year for small schools last season, transferred to Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas.

Studley is Jewish and his grandfather survived the Holocaust. 

“I believe it is my obligation to speak up when I feel that something or someone is being wronged,” he said. “Continuing to be silent would be complicit in American Heritage’s discriminatory and retaliatory conduct.”

Studley is asking that any donations supporting his case be made to the ACLU of Florida and the Black Girls Matter Miami Coalition.